India has launched a firm diplomatic and strategic response against Pakistan following the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including a foreign national. Authorities have linked the attack to Pakistan-based group The Resistance Front, a proxy of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Major measures announced by India

A day after the attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India’s highest decision-making body on national security, convened to assess the situation. Based on the investigation findings and identified “cross-border linkages,” a series of significant measures were unveiled:

Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, has withstood multiple wars between India and Pakistan. India has now placed the agreement in abeyance, halting the flow of water from the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers to Pakistan. This move has the potential to severely impact water availability for millions in Pakistan.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas cancelled: All SVES visas issued to Pakistani nationals have been revoked. Those currently in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours. India will no longer issue such visas to Pakistani citizens.

Closure of Attari-Wagah border crossing: The Attari Integrated Check Post has been shut with immediate effect. Individuals already in India with valid endorsements can return to Pakistan via the same route only until 1 May 2025.

Reduction in diplomatic staff and withdrawal of defence advisors: Both countries will downsize their respective high commissions. India will reduce its personnel in Islamabad from 55 to 30. Defence officials, including naval and air advisers, have been declared persona non grata and must exit within a week.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that these steps are intended to hold accountable not only the perpetrators but also those enabling terrorism. “The CCS resolved that justice will be pursued relentlessly,” Misri added, referencing the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana as an example of India’s uncompromising stance.

Political and strategic context

Water Resources Minister CR Paatil lauded the decision to suspend the treaty, noting that such steps had been considered in the past, especially after incidents like the 2019 Pulwama attack. The treaty has long been viewed as a symbol of rare bilateral cooperation, but its suspension marks a dramatic shift, signaling India’s growing impatience with what it perceives as Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as a state tool.

The move comes amid mounting warnings from water experts about Pakistan’s looming water crisis, driven by overpopulation, climate change, and mismanagement. The disruption in river flows from India could intensify that crisis, adding pressure on Islamabad.

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics and a pioneering figure in modern Church history, died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. The Vatican confirmed his passing, stating that the pontiff died peacefully at 7:35 am local time.

Elected in 2013 as the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit to occupy the papacy, Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, served the Church with a pastoral approach rooted in humility, social justice, and reform. Fulfilling his personal wish, he became the first pope in more than a hundred years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican, with his burial taking place at Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

Health decline in final months

Pope Francis’ health had been a major concern in recent months. Hospitalised on February 14 with bronchitis, his condition was later diagnosed as bilateral pneumonia, accompanied by early signs of kidney failure. Though he made a public appearance from the hospital balcony in March, his condition remained precarious.

Despite these challenges, the pope appeared at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, offering his blessings to thousands of worshippers. His final public engagement came just a day before his passing, after meeting US Vice President JD Vance.

A legacy of reform and compassion

Francis inherited a Church under scrutiny for clerical sexual abuse scandals and internal divisions. Over 12 years, he steered the Church toward openness and inclusion while facing criticism from both conservative and progressive factions.

• Advocated for: migrants’ rights, environmental protection, and social equity
• Confronted: sexual abuse within clergy with institutional reforms
• Milestones:
  • First pope to allow blessings for same-sex couples
  • Appointed women leaders in Vatican offices
  • Authored four major doctrinal documents
  • Created 900+ saints
  • Travelled to 65+ countries on 47 foreign visits
    

Final rites and conclave

Pope Francis’ funeral and burial rites will break from tradition. Opting for a single wooden and zinc coffin instead of the traditional three, he emphasized humility even in death. His burial at Santa Maria Maggiore reflects his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.

The first Latin American to head the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. He died after a prolonged illness.

Pope Francis succeeded as pope in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a first as well.

Throughout his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis faced multiple health challenges, including a particularly serious bout of double pneumonia in recent months.

The next pope will be elected by the cardinals some 15-20 days later.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14 for bronchitis. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and reported to be in a “critical condition.” During this period, the Vatican also announced signs of “initial, mild” kidney failure.

He made a public appearance on March 23, greeting supporters from a balcony of the hospital and offering a thumbs-up. Later, he returned to the Vatican to undertake two months of prescribed rest.

He participated in the Easter Sunday Service as well yesterday. A day earlier, he had met US Vice President JD Vance.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76. His election marked a shift for the Church, which was grappling with a child sex abuse scandal and internal conflicts.

Despite facing significant criticism from both conservative and progressive factions within the Church, Pope Francis became a global icon, renowned for his commitment to interfaith dialogue and advocacy for marginalized communities, including migrants.

During his papacy, he issued four major teaching documents, and embarked on 47 foreign trips to over 65 countries. He also canonized more than 900 saints.

Notably, Pope Francis aimed to modernize the Church by permitting priests to bless same-sex couples in certain circumstances and appointing women to leadership positions within the Vatican for the first time. Furthermore, he held five major summits of Catholic bishops to address contentious issues such as women’s ordination and Church sexual teachings.